Umbrella-frame.



W. S. PENN.

UMBRELLA FRAME.

APPLICATION FILED JLINE 3, 1914. 1,136,887. Patented A101120, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS CD., PHOTO-LITHO., :JAS/ll Gro WILLIAM sYLvnsTnn PENN, on ATLANTA.,l GEORGIA.

UMBRELLA-FRAME.

Specification of Lettersrlatent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application led June 3, 1914. Serial No. 842,731.

ing at Atlanta., in the county of Fulton and v State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrella- Frames, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. Y

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in umbrellas, and particularly to umbrella frames which include removable stretchers.

` An object of this invention is the provision of an umbrella :trame including stretchers which are formed withidentical ends,

- the ends being readily detachable from the runner on the staii" and the ribs of the umbrella, so that the stretchers are interchangeable, any one of the stretchers being adapted fordisconnection from the frame individually without disturbing the adjacent stretchers.

Another lobject of this invention is the provisionofan umbrella frame which includes a staii' upon which a runner isslidably mounted, the runner being adapted to receive the inner ends of the stretchers therein, and the runner supporting an inner protecting sleeve which engages the periphery ofthe staff, the inner ends of the stretchers engaging against the sleeve to be held thereby against bearing frictionally against the sta as the stretchers areopened or closed.

With these andother objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of my improved umbrella frame;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on theV line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing one end of one of the stretchers; Fig. 4L is an end view of the thimble mounted on the shaft; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation-al view showing the alterT native form of 'bracket connected to the ribs; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the blank on which the geat or bracket is marde.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the staff of my improved umbrella frame, and secured to the stati, adjacent its outer end, is a thimble 2, and slidably mounted upon the staff, inwardly of the thimble, is a runner 3. The thimble 2 and the runner 3 are identical in construction, and they are each bulged outwardly intermediate of their ends as at 4, the bulged portion of the members being provided with longitudinally extending elongated slots 5. The runner 3 is slightly larger in diameter than the thimble, and within the runner, a sleeve is mounted, the opposite ends of the sleeve being turned out wardly to engage the opposite ends of the runner, whereby the sleeve is held in position within the runner. Pivotally mounted withinthe bulged portion of the thimble 2, are the inner T-heads 7 of the ribs 8, the heads 7 being of a length slightly shorter than the length of the slots 5 in the thimble so that the heads may be readily inserted into tliebulged portion of the thimble and turned to extend across the Slots so that the same are held within the thimble against accidental displacement. Similarly mounted within the bulged portion 4 of the runner are the inner T-heads 9 of the stretchers l0, the outer ends of the stretchers being also formed with T-heads 11 which are pivotally connected to the ribs 8 intermediate of their ends within brackets Each of the brackets or geats is formed from a strip of metal 12 which is provided at its opposite ends with transversely extending heads 13, the body portion of each plate being provided with an elongated slot 14- as illustrated in Fig. 7. The transverse heads 13 of each bracket are disposed around one of the ribs 8. and secured thereto by pins or other suitable fastening devices, the slotted portion of the bracket being bowed inwardly to provide a seat between the rib and the bowed portion of the bracket to receive the T-head l1 on the outer end'of one .of the stretchers therein. Y

' In thepractic'al use of my improved device,

the various parts of the frame are attached in the following manner z-The thimble 2 y is secured to thestad, adjacent its outerend,

by rivets or other suitable fastening devices and the runner 3 having the sleeve 6 mounted therein is slidablydisposed upon the staff inwardly of the thimble. The ribs 8 are Y then disposed so that the T-heads 7 on the sof inner ends thereof, are arranged to extend longitudinally of the slots 5 in the thimble so that the heads may be readily inserted into the thimble and turned to extend across the slots, whereupon the stretchers l() are disposed with the heads 9 on their inner ends within the slots in the bulged portion et. TheV ribs A6 are then moved inwardly to force the T-heads l1 on the outer ends of the stretchers through the slotted portions of the brackets, the geats on the ribs. When the' parts are in this position, the stretcher may be turned to dispose its heads across the slot 5 in the runner and the slot 14 in the bracket'so that the several parts are connected in operative position.

From the abovedescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have provided an umbrella frame in which any one of the stretchers or ribs may be removed without ldisturbing the adjacent stretchers or ribs, and by providing the sleeve 6l within the runner 3, undue wear upon the stafll which Y is usually imposed thereupon by the engagement of the heads upon the inner ends of illustrated an alternative form of bracket the stretchers therewith, is prevented'.

' In Figs. 5y and 6 of the drawing,I have for pivotally connecting the T-heads 11 on f the outer ends of the stretchers 10 to the Y ribs 8, each of the brackets consisting of an elongated flexible plate 15 which is provided with apertures 16 in its opposite ends, the. plates being adapted to engage around the ribs and being secured thereto by pins i7, the free apertured ends of the plates beingdisposed in spaced relation to receive the opposite ends of the T-heads 11. As the pla-tes are flexible, the apertured ends thereof bend inwardly or outwardly when it is desired to connect or disconnect the stretchers and the ribs.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by LettersV Patent, is

l. An umbrella a thimble connected to the staff adjacent its outer end, a runner slidably mounted upon the staif inwardly of the thimble, ribs pivotally connected to the thimble, stretchers VYpivotally connected at their inner `ends to the runner, a bracket connected to each of frame comprising a staff,`

the ribs intermediate vof its ends, each of` the brackets comprising a strip having an inwardly bowed slottedjportion, and the outer end of each of the stretchers being' provided with a T-shaped head for engage-V ment through the slot of the corresponding bracket, the length of the slot beinglonger Y than the length of the T-shaped head, where-l f by the stretchers may be turned to pivotally connect the saine to the brackets.

2. An umbrella frame comprising a staff,

a thimble connected to the staff adjacent its Y,

outer ends, a runner slidably mounted upon the staff inwardly of the'thimble, ribs'pivotally. connected to the thimble, stretchers pivotally connected at their :inner ends in said runner, a bracket connected to each of Vthe ribs intermediate of its ends, each of said brackets comprising. an elongated strip having transversely extending heads at its ends, the heads ofeach bracket being secured around one of the ribs, the vbody portion of each'strp being slotted andV being bowed inwardly toprovide a seat between the rib and the bowed portion of the plate,

and thev end of each of said stretchers being provided withva T-head whereby-the same may be extended through the slot [of one of the brackets and turned to extend across the l slot,` whereby the stretchers are pivotally connected to the'ribs.Y Y Y 3. In an umbrella, a staff, a runner mounted upon the staff, a rib mounted upon the staff, a geat or bracketmounted upon the rib, the

Vrunner being provided with an outwardly bowed and longitudinally slotted portion,

the geat being formed'with outwardlyproi" jecting oppositely disposed spaced eyes, and a stretcher'having at eachv end an identical.

cross bar, said cross bar and the adjacent portion of the stretcher being `less in thicky ness than theslot in therunner or the space between .thereyes on the j geat, whereby to permit the insertion, of thecross bars respectively into the geat andr runner, the rotationV of the stretcher bringing said cross bar into. 1V

position at right anglesto the space in the geat between the eyes and theY slot in said runner, thus pivotally and detachably'connecting the stretcher with the runner and the rib.

l. In an umbrella, a stad, a runner on the Vand the adjacent portions of the stretcher having a width less than the width Vof said slots and a lengthv greater than the Width of i In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my the slots whereby the cross bars may be insignature in the presence of tWo Witnesses. serted in said slots in the geat and runner T und the stretcher rotated to turn the cross WILLIAM SYLVESTER PEB N bars at right angles to the slots, thereby Witnesses:

pivotally connecting the stretcher with the JOHN B. JACKSON,

runner and gest, respectively. ERTON ST. JOHN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. O. 

